Straw mobiles or geometric suspended ornaments, traditionally made of straw, are known by many different names across various cultures: himmeli (Finland and Sweden), sodas (Lithuania), jõulukroon (Estonia), among others. Each culture has its own variations and significance for these ornaments. In Latvia, the ornament is called puzuris and is known by several other names across different regions. Puzuris is a traditional Latvian winter solstice ornament that visually and symbolically represents the world. Suspended by the ceiling, it sways at the slightest breath of wind. The deeper meaning of the puzuris movement involves the concept of the winter solstice being the time when the sun shifts its course towards the spring, it is reborn and regains its strength to rise higher. For puzuris to sway effortlessly, it is crafted from light materials and suspended by a thin thread.
Among other purposes, puzuris ornaments were used to adorn rooms for weddings and baby blessing rites. On such occasions, the central puzuris was complemented by multiple smaller ones. Used as an ornament at a wedding, it symbolised the fertility and harmony of the newly wedded couple, whereas at a baby blessing rite, its swaying movements promised health and prosperity to the newborn.
Traditionally, there are two main types of puzuris in Latvian culture. The first is a polyhedron – a geometric depiction of the world, made of straw or reeds. The second is a round turnip, suspended by a thread and pierced with rye straw, representing a hedgehog curled into a ball. Christmas is the time when the sun arises in the image of a hedgehog and begins its path to awakening. Such puzuris ornaments are considered to offer strong protection against the evil and threats.
